Down by the River (A Smoky Mountain Novel) by Lin Stepp

Author:Lin Stepp [Stepp, Lin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2014-05-27T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 13

A week slipped by, and Grace had guests at the inn. They sat gathered in the dining room helping themselves to the Sunday buffet breakfast Grace always served. Grace and Margaret sat in the kitchen with plates of their own.

“Good morning,” Vincent said, letting himself in the back kitchen door. “I see there are several cars outside. You must be busy today.”

Margaret mumbled something about how their being busy didn’t seem to stop some people from making themselves at home. Grace hid a smile as she went to pour Vincent a cup of coffee.

Vincent was dressed to preach in a tailored, navy, pin-striped suit, and he looked like a million dollars. He even smelled good—wearing some sort of musky scent. Grace watched Margaret assess him covertly. A woman would have to be dead not to notice Vincent Westbrooke, yet Margaret did her best to act cool and disinterested whenever he came around.

Grace put Vincent’s cup of coffee on the kitchen table. “Go in the dining room and fix yourself a plate.” She smiled at him. It felt like having Mike or Kenneth back at home for Vincent to drop in every morning. “And introduce yourself while you’re there. The Quinn family is leaving for Ohio this morning, but the McAllisters and the Bridges are staying over another night. They might like to visit the church service this morning. You could ask them.”

“I will.” He ran his fingers lightly across Margaret’s shoulder as he passed her chair. “I hear you are visiting the church this morning, too. You’ll enjoy hearing Mrs. Carson play the piano. She has a gift.”

“So I’ve heard.” Margaret’s tone was sarcastic.

Grace shook her head at Margaret as Vincent went into the dining room. “There’s no need to be rude.”

Margaret rolled her eyes and countered in a derisive tone. “Well, it’s doubtful I will be impressed with the performance of dear, old Mrs. Carson, playing piano in the Creekside Independent Presbyterian Church in Townsend, Tennessee.”

“There’s no need to be smug and arrogant, either.” Grace gave Margaret a critical glance. “Although Mrs. Carson is almost eighty, she’s a beautiful, gracious woman. And you may be surprised at how well she plays.”

“Right. I’m sure I will.” Margaret offered her mother a contrived smile.

She got up to get herself another cup of coffee. “Don’t worry, Mother. I’ll be nice. I promised you I’d visit, and I will. But I’m only doing this to help your business and your image here in the valley. I want the inn to continue to be successful—and the shop, too. So I’m doing everything I can to cooperate. I hope you appreciate that.”

“I do appreciate it.” Grace leaned over to kiss Margaret on the cheek as she sat back down. Margaret had come around about the changes in Grace’s life more than Grace had expected her to, and Grace was grateful. “I also appreciate the good reports you’ve given to Elaine and the boys. I actually think they’re all planning to come over when it’s time for your school to begin.

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